As an educational support professional, you can play an important role in promoting public education. Below are proven steps you can take.

Get the message out

• Explain to friends and the community what the local, state or national organization is supporting and why.
• Put up billboards for education.
• Sponsor community events.
• Strengthen coalitions with other unions.
• Use students as guides for school tours.
• Support alumni associations.
• Spotlight individuals who have made a difference.
• Distribute a district newsletter to every household.
• Hand out pamphlets in malls, explaining what ESPs do.
• Donate to charitable organizations.
• Bus drivers, show your training video to parents at community organization meetings to develop confidence in the drivers and other ESPs.
• Publicize the training, staffing requirements and annual testing for building/grounds, maintenance and security professionals.
• Inform the community of the work you do and its value to them.
• Speak to graduating classes at high schools and community colleges about the duties and responsibilities of ESPs.
• On April Fools Day, have staff switch jobs. Principals and teachers will learn what ESPs do.

Be involved in the whole education community

• Serve on committees such as school enrichment and site-based decision making, and at PTO/PTA meetings.

• Build relationships with teachers, principals, higher education members and other ESPs.

• Support public education issues.

• Be politically active on behalf of public education.

• Invite politicians to visit the schools to see the impact of their laws.

• Sponsor a joint teacher/ESP retirement and awards dinner; invite politicians.

• Attend school board meetings and raise awareness of ESP issues.

• Research outside contractors and let legislators and school board know the negatives, e.g., Laidlaw's safety record.

• Invite school board members to lunch in the cafeteria or to sit in a classroom or on a school bus.

• Use public town meetings to educate the public about ESP work.

• Inform members about legislative initiatives affecting them.

• Participate in lobby days at the state level.

• Get members involved to support school funding reform.